NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9954, 25 April 1918, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The whole question of representation in the constitution of Harbour Boards is to bo brought forward by the Wellington Harbour Board at the next Harbour Boards' Conference.

The "Times" Greymouth correspondent states, that in addition to signing the usual Labour platform Mr H. in. Holland lias given a written undertaking to resign if ejected when Mr I'. C. Webb is again eligihlo for election to the House.

The local; Seamen's Union ha s resolved to co-operate with the Trades and Labour Council regarding the question of indttstrial conscription a* made law by the Government in the recent short session, and for that purpose has appointed representatives to act. with tho council in any future action.

Since the war the British Government has purchased produce to a value of £61.422,828, and he would make a guess that when the purchases for January, February and March were added the amount would b» increased by £11.000,000," ,said the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) yesterday at the annual luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce;

At the luncheon of the Wellington Chamiher of Commerce yesterday Sir Joseph Ward laughingly remarke'd that critics said that the Prime Minister and himself .had consumed dinners at the "Ritz" when in London which cost from £lO to £ll each. To do so it would bo necessary to be like a frog and when blown out get pricked l so that they could commence over again, and continue the operation until the necessary amount to equal the cost had been consumed. (Laughter.)

Some idea of what a great use is made of the Salvation Army institutes in camp will be gained from tho fact that during a recent week 30,000 sheets of notopaper were used in the Army institute at Featlierston, where Chap-' lain-Captain Carter is in charge of the work. The system of dealing out this large quantity of paper is so ariidnged, that there is no waste, so that there would be probably 10,000 letters written in the institute in the seven days. Tliis largo part of the work brings the Salvation Army in a bill averaging ncarlv £2OO for three months.

The Prime Minister informed the membors of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday that in 1914, the insulated vessels trading to New Zealand numbered 99, in 1915. the number was reduced to 84, in 1016 to 78, and in 1917 to 62, but more use was made of tho space last year, when £31,500,000 worth of produce was shipped. Since then nineteen vessels, some of which traded also with Australia, had been lost. The imports for tho year amounted to £20,600,000, and when the population was taken into consideration it would he found that the trado per hcead was greater than any other country in the world. (Applause.) It spoke volumes for the wonderful productiveness of the country.

Mr A. H. Hindmarsh, at tho Harbour Board meeting last evening, characterised the existing" system of representation on the board as almost medieval. Ho claimed that the waterside workers had as much right to have four direct representatives on the board as the , shipowners, payers _ of dues, and tho Oovornment. Ho pointed out that although the Government contributed lingo sums to Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards without a. direct representative on such boards, it persisted in being represented on the Harbour Board, which received nothing from tho Government. Without any personal allusion in. the matter, ho held that the nomination of a Government representative on the board was purely a matter of petty patronage.

The annual meeting of tho parish of St. Mary's, KarOri, was held last night. In the churchwarden's report lit was pointed out that there was a very gratifying increase in all the funds of the church.' For the past lycar £123 was contributed to charitiahle and other objects outside of the parish. This sum included £49 given for soldiers' comforts, taken up at intercession services once a month. A proposal was submitted for building a now Sunday school, but no decision was reached. Mr J. W. Henderson was nominated by the vicar as his churchwarden, and Mr T. Pellett was elected people's churchwarden. The following Were elected to tho vestry— Messrs H. Cook, It. Caldwell, A.'P. Harper, Holder, W. F. NowcOmbe, J. A. Andrews, W. Skegg, A. G. Henderson, L, G. Porter, and W. B. Shortt. '

Tile Hutt autumn flower show was opened yesterday afternoon, by the Hon. T. M. Wilford. There was an excellent array of out blooms, potplants, fruit, and vegetables.

At the close of the P.P.A. meeting at the Town Hall last night, the chairman (the Rev. Knowles Smith) thanked the police for the quiet yet efficient way m which they had done their duty at tho meeting in the way of preserving order. He ha<i noticed a number of "quiet evictions" as the meeting progressed. (Laughter and applause.)

A loud cock-crow greeted the Rev. Howard Elliott's.declaration at thf P.P.A. meeting at the Town Haul last night, that he was going to "overtake the Jesuit in A T evr Zealand so far as ho could by exposing him." "Listen to the voice of Borne," said Mr Elliott, amid loud laughter. "I suppose- they use that call because St. Peter at one time had something to do with it." (Laughter.)

• _ "Can. a Protestant mother have her girls brought up in her religion, the father being a. Roman Catholic?" was one of the questions asked of the Rev. Howard Elliott at tho Town Hall last night. "Under tlic law, he replied, "■ike father has legal rights over the children; and I am afraid that if the father insists, that the children shall be - brought up in his religion, .. the mother has no remedy." The Rev. Knowles Smith (chairman) : "If . the father pays-for. their education." .

In criticising the ability of the Harbour Board to take over the complete control of all waterfront labour, at j the Harbour Board meeting last evening, Mr J. G. Harkness made a comparison that was disparaging to the Wellington Board so far as the handling of cheese was concerned. He alleged that in the Patea cheeses store, where far more cheese was handled in a year than in the Wellington store, only a manager and a staff of six were rqquired, while 'at Wellington, there was a regular staff of from five to ten men and from about fifteen to twenty other workers.

After discussion last night the Harbour Board adopted a recommendation by a 6pocial committee which was set up to report concerning employment on the waterfront. The committee's proposal was that the board approach the Government with a request that the Harbours Act be amended in such a manner as to empower harbour, boards to control, and manage all labour required in"'the loading and unloading of ships and work generally,*' whether ori the wharves or on vessels. Tho recommendation was carried by eleven votes, to three, its opponents. being Captain McArthur, Messrs Harkuess and Wallis.

"Is the P.P.A. in favour of free, secular, and. compulsory education ? Is the P.P.A. opposed to the teaching of the ...Bible in the- State- sc-hoote?" was asked of tho Rev. Howard Elliott at last night's Town Hall meeting. Air Elliott replied that one of their objects was "to maintain the national system of free, undenominational and compulsory education." They said "undenominational," not "secular." They were absolutely neutral on the question of tho Bible in schools. Tbey did not allow the question to be discussed on their platform. It iras a side issue in their Protestantism, and members were free to take their own course in the matter. (Applause;)

Referring to, the "remarks . . of. Mr Frazer, the Auckland, magistrate, who heard the "case against the men who assaulted the > Rev; Howard Elliott, the Rev. Mr Miller; of Feilding, declared at tlie Towri'Hall last night that Mr Frazer had practically commended .the men- who had committed tho assault. Taken to their logical conclusion; his worts amounted to the advocacy of lynch law. Since the men who com hutted tho assault at. Feilding had the right to believe that a .niagk|tra;tc( had 1 condoned,, if, not recommended their action, Mr. Frazer should stand in the dock with them when they were put "on trial next month. (Applause*) Ho rejoiced to see that His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) and their beloved magistrate, Mr McCarthy, had at once dissociated themselves from Mr Frazer's statement. The logical conclusion; surely; was that Sir Fraser should resign. (Applause.)

Tho Feilding assault, declared Rev. Mr Miller", at last night's Town Hall meeting, had opened 'the eyes of many people to the fact, among other things, that the Press Association, as represented by some of its" agents at least, was not a trustworthy channel for the dissemination of news. . (Applause.) From the Press Association report of the assault, on Rev. Howard Elliott at Auckland he had received an impression antagonistic to that gentleman; but when he heard his clear statement of the matter, with chapter and verse, he said to himself, "That, man is right." lie feared that in somo instances the fountain was poisoned. (Applause.) He began to understand why important meetings of the Presbyterian Church were dismissed 1 in very short space, while when a not verv prominent dignitary of tho Roman Catholic Church toured New Zealand many inchos were devoted to his utterances.

He understood, said the Rev. Howard Elliott, at the P.P.A. meeting at the -Town Hall last night, that Mr Ma-ssey and Sir Joseph AVard addressed a recent meeting at the Town Hall at which pandemonium reigned. A constable in plain clothes at the hack ot the hall had led that demonstration, and the matter was reported by two sergeants to his senior officer. "I hare the reports here," said Mr Elliott, waving them in his hand. Bat his senior officer-said that there was not enough evidence to tako action on. "If it had been mo." commented the rev. gentleman, ''there would have been enough to uut me safe for six months. (Laughter!) "When a constable could lead a movement like that and could bo reported and go unpunished, there must bo something wrong. (Applause.) Again," bo stated, a tramway employee in Auckland had reported to a constable- about the seditious utterances or a fellow-employee. The constable howevor. had not taken action against the soditiou-nwnijer, but had taken such action that tho other man lost his billet. He believed that such instances were rare in New Zealand but if there were many of them they Avould have to ask if the : admrnutration of the police was not tainted and if there wero reason for a change. A deputation had brought tho matter before th o Hon T. -M. Wilford (the Mnust«r-in-Charge of tho Police) the previous day, luid he had promised to look ointo the matter". He (Mr Elliott) wanted them to watch the Minister'* action, and see whether onlv the eonstablo would be Tmnished, or whether those who had refused to punish him on the reports handed in wduld be dealt with also.

The following were elected members of the Taita School Committee:— Messrs A. Burgess, S. Cooley, AV. Harris, D. McArthur, H. Mawson, J. Stonehouse, and M. W. Welch.

The Maori children at the Tolago Bay Sunday school have been collecting their ponnies for the Red Triangle Day fund, and have sent the Y.M.C.A. the sum of 12s 7-jd as a result of their i efforts. The following tenders for the current year's supplies have been accepted by the Wellington Hospital Board. BarI ber and Co., meat; K.Z. Trawling and 'Fish Supply, fish; Westport" Coal Co., coal; R. Hannah and Co., boots and shoes; R. H. Wilson and Son, funerals. I Replying to a question at last night's ' P.P.A. meeting, the Rev. ; Howard Elliott said that to compel Catholic children to attend the State .schools would be doing tho Roman. Catholics an injustice,' just as when the Ronian Catho'lics asked Protestants to pay for their s chools they did them an injiistioe. The following- tenders have been \ a*. ceptod bv the JSanbour Board for Urn year ending March 31st, 1319:—Cartage. Hunt; Cottrell and Co., Ltd.; coal, A schedule, Westport-Stooktoil Coal Co., Ltd.; coal. B and C schedules, Blackball Coal C.; coal. * D schedule, D. Andrews; removal of rubbish, Munt, Cottrell and Co., Ltd. The following were elected to the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at the annual meeting yes- - terday for the ensuing, y©ar:—Messrs F. -W. Manton, T. Ballinger, J. U. Harkness, J. B. Mac Ewan, J: McLellan, J. F. Mills, T. C. Dawson, F. Rasey R. E. Sinclair, S. C. Baron, W. J. Bndson, and M. A. Carr. With reference to the remark of.the chairman of the Defence Expenditure Commission as to the uninviting appearance of Trontham Camp, it should be understood he referred entirely to its aspect from an ornamental.point of view. Sir Robert Anderson did no-t indicate any reflection on the accommodation provided.

The big Red Triangle receiving box at the Post Office has been well patronised ever since it was placed there, and the Y.M.C. has been able to put a good supply of literature on "every transport. Fairly new magazines in good oondoition .the better class of fiction, and classiis are in strong demand/by the beys during tie long sea voyage.

The annual meeting of the "Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, there being a Jorge attendance of members. The meeting waa preceded by a luncheon. The president (Mr F. W. Manton), the Prime Minister (Mr Massey), and Sir Joseph .Ward were the principal speakers. They referred par ticulai'ly to the trade' problems that would have to be Settled after the war.

iMr F. W. Manton (president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce) at the annual meeting of tho chamber yesterday, publicly expressed tho appreciation of tho commercial community to the officials of tho departments intimately connected with commence In doing so ho particularly mentioned the heads of the Customs Department and the officials connected tvith. 'the Munitions and 'Supplies Departments.

Legal argument was concluded yesterday before the Court of Appeal in tho case tho Union Steamship Company v. the owners of an oversea barquo which raa on to the rocks at the entrance to Wellington in June last. Tho appeal is against tho decision of tho Chief Justice, Sir Robert Slout, who awarded appellant company £ICOO for services rendered t*\ tho barque by appeilant' 6 tug Terawhiti. Their Honours' Mr Justice Edwards, Mr Justice Chapman, Air Justico Cooper, and Mr Justice Sim reserved their decisions.

A Masterton case of which much has been heard in the courts during tho last few months, came before the Court of Appeal yesterday. The parties to. the case are- Alexander Colquhoiin, soldier, of Trenthairi, appellant, and John Cross, of Masterton, respondent. The case was heard before Their Honours Mr Justice. Edwards,"Mr justice Cooper, Mr Justice Chapman, and Mr Justice Sim. Mr M. Myers (in r strueted by Messrs "Wflford, Levi, and Jackson) appeared for appellant, and .Sir John Findlay, K.C., with Mr i>. R. Hoggard, for respondent. The appeal is from a decision of the Chief Justice <jSir Robert iitout). The case is one in which Cross was awarded £IOOO damages by a Masterton jury against Colquhoun for seduction. Leave was reserved at the trial to Mr T. M. Wilford, who appeared for Colquhoun, to move for a' nonsuit on the ground that the girl's evidence was not cor. toborated, as required by tho Evidence Aot. The Chief Justice decided against this contention, and it is from this judgment that the, appeal is now being brought. The hearing will be continued to-day.